On Saturday, the 4th round of the Spanish championship features a match at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, where Athletic will face Alaves. Here’s a look at the expected outcome of this game, which seems promising for the host team.
Match Preview
Ernesto Valverde’s team is enjoying a strong start this season, winning all three of their opening matches. They have secured points against Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano, and Betis, and currently sit at the top of the table alongside Real Madrid.
Athletic is particularly strong when playing at home, having lost only once in their last 18 La Liga games at San Mamés. Despite some coaching absences and player losses, they continue to maintain their strong performance in both attack and defense.
Eduardo Coudet’s Alaves started the season with a solid win over Levante and a draw against Atletico, showing their resilience. However, their away form has been shaky, highlighted by their defeat to Betis.
Defensively, Alaves struggles on the road, having conceded goals in 20 of their last 22 away matches. Additionally, they often have difficulty converting chances, particularly against Athletic; in their last seven encounters, Alaves scored only once.
Probable Lineups
- Athletic Bilbao: Simon, Berchiche, Vivian, Areso, Paredes, Prados, Jauregizar, Sancet, Guruzeta, Berenguer, I. Williams
- Alaves: Sivera, Garces, Jony, Tenaglia, Diarra, Blanco, Guridi, Ibanez, Alena, Martinez, Vicente
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Athletic is unbeaten in 17 of their last 18 home matches in La Liga.
- In their last 7 La Liga encounters, Alaves has scored just 1 goal against Athletic.
- Athletic has won their last 3 home matches against Alaves without conceding.
Prediction
Given Athletic’s excellent form and Alaves’ struggles away from home, the hosts are clearly favored in this matchup. Athletic consistently performs well at home and effectively counters their opponents’ attacks.
